A distillation of more than 3 years of reading, The First Volume of The Commonplace Book of Joshua Humphreys contains the formative reading which that author and playwright undertook while learning the craft of novel-writing.With quotations, excerpts, and selections from over 300 poets, playwrights, painters, philosophers, musicians, kings, queens, presidents, saints, & soldiers, and covering over 350 subjects—this priceless work forms half the backbone of The New Cavalier Reading Society—that noble and audacious group whose membership includes this work.